Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has officially announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Allied People’s Movement (APM) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The governor made the announcement on Saturday following a meeting with PDP stakeholders in the state. He said he was leaving with the entire PDP structure in Bauchi, from ward and local government levels to the state level.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Governor Bala described the current political climate as “extraordinary and complex.” He said he had spent the last eight days in Abuja engaging at the highest level to resolve the challenges facing the PDP.
“I sought all available avenues with diligence and in good faith,” he said. “However, the outcome of the recent Supreme Court judgment has fundamentally altered the landscape and our expectations. The court, in a split decision, nullified the parallel conventions conducted by the contending factions and declared all actions arising from them null and void.”
He explained that the ruling had left both factions without legal standing, with the PDP Board of Trustees temporarily assuming responsibility for the party’s affairs in line with its constitution. Despite this, he noted, actions taken since the judgment have created further uncertainty.
“After careful consideration and wide consultations with leaders and stakeholders across the country, it has become clear that our efforts to restore stability have not yielded the desired results,” he said. “At this point, I wish to acknowledge and appreciate the PDP for the important role it has played in our collective political journey.”
Governor Bala said the PDP had provided a platform through which he and his team had served and contributed to national development. “We remain grateful for this history and the opportunities it provided. As responsible leaders, we cannot allow our people to be left without a credible and effective political platform.”
He said the decision to join the APM was guided by one objective: to secure electoral victory and serve the people with purpose and integrity. “The APM offers us a viable platform to organise effectively, mobilise our supporters, and present a coherent and credible alternative to the people. We have carried out due diligence, and it is not encumbered by any legal issues that could hinder our participation — unless such issues are manufactured after we join.”
The governor added that the APM remained the most credible option at this time. He also announced that members of his executive council had resigned their positions after indicating interest in contesting various elective offices.
“We are PDP at heart, but we had to leave the PDP to continue the struggle,” he said. “We cannot be diminished. We cannot be conquered. We will continue to uphold the torch of democracy to ensure good governance for this country.”
To ensure a smooth and lawful transition, he said a compliance committee had been established to guide all actions in line with legal and electoral requirements. Other steps include the launch of an online membership registration process, the formation of a committee to liaise with the Independent National Electoral Commission on transparency, and a coordinated grassroots mobilisation campaign across the state.
“Let me reassure the people of Bauchi that this decision is not born out of uncertainty,” he said.
National Chairman of the APM, Yusuf Ahmed Dantalle, welcomed the governor and his supporters, describing the party as free from litigation and internal crisis. He pledged to work closely with the new entrants to strengthen the party ahead of 2027.
